Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo OON (born July 1, 1970) is a Nigerian Islamic scholar and academic. He is a professor of Hadith and Tafsir at Bayero University Kano (BUK) and serves as the Chief Imam of Dorayi Jum'at Mosque in Kano, Nigeria.
Early life and education Rijiyar Lemo was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and later moved to Kano, Nigeria, where he was raised. He began his education at Khairul Bariyya Islamic Primary School in Kano and continued at Shahuci Junior Secondary School Kano. He later attended Government Arabic Teachers College in Gwale, where he completed his Senior Islamic Studies in 1989. He pursued higher education at the Islamic University of Madinah, earning a Bachelor's degree in Hadith Science and Islamic Studies in 1994. He later obtained a Master's degree from the same institution in 2000.
Career After completing his studies, Rijiyar Lemo returned to Nigeria and joined the faculty at Bayero University Kano as a lecturer. Over the years, he advanced in his academic career, becoming an associate professor and later a full professor. In addition to his academic role, he is involved in religious activities and serves as the director of the Al-Imam Al-Bukhari Centre for Research and Translation. He is also the chairman of the Sheikh Ja'afar Islamic Documentation Centre in Kano.
Recognition In October 2022, he was awarded the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by the Nigerian government in recognition of his academic and religious contributions.
Personal life Rijiyar Lemo is married and resides in Kano, Nigeria.
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